And 5 PM the on last Sunday Of

And 5 PM the on last Sunday Of The Month

3

4 Can You?

Matthew 14: 22 -33 Can You Walk On Water? 5

Can You Walk On Water? Matthew 14: 22 -33 (NKJV) 22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 6

Can You Walk On Water? Matthew 14: 22 -33 (NKJV) 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. " 28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. " 29 So He said, "Come. " And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 7

Can You Walk On Water? Matthew 14: 22 -33 (NKJV) 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt? " 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God. " 8

Can You Walk On Water? Matthew 14: 29 (NKJV) 29 So He said, "Come. " And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 9

10 Can You Walk On Water? Literally – NO – because the command was to Peter and NOT TO US! Figuratively – YES – We can accomplish anything Jesus has Commanded us to do!

Why Did Peter Begin To Sink? Not Because 29 So He said, 28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if "Come. " And when it is You, command me Peter had come to You on the down out of the water. " boat, he walked on the water to go to èHe Lacked Faith In Jesus’ Power! – (28) èHe Lacked Interest & Effort – (28) èHe Acted Presumptuously – (28, 29) èThe Instructions Of The Lord “COULD NOT” Be Carried Out – (29) 11

Why Did Peter Begin To Sink? Because He Took His Eyes Off Jesus – (30) “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, ” èHe was distracted by the storm – he began to notice what was going on around him instead of focusing on Jesus èDistraction is a tool often used by Satan 12

Why Do We Begin To Sink? Because We Take Our Eyes Off Jesus! èWe can easily be distracted by: Matthew 13: 22 (NKJV) Matthew 6: 25 (NKJV) 22 Matthew 13: 20 -21 (NKJV) Now he who received 20 But he who received the seed 25 "Therefore I say to you, do seed among the thorns is ÷ Being anxious, or overly concerned on stony places, this is he who not worry about your life, for our material needs - Mat 6: 25 -33 he who hears the word, hears the word and immediately what you will eat or what receives it with joy; ÷ The hardships we have been called to and the cares of this world you will drink; nor about 21 yet he has no root in himself, endure - Mat 13: 20 -21 and the deceitfulness of your body, what you will put but endures only for a while. For ÷ Allowing material things to consume on. Is not life more than food riches choke the word, when tribulation or persecution our time and efforts – Mat 13: 22 and the body more than and he becomes unfruitful. arises because of the word, clothing? immediately he stumbles. 13

Why Do We Begin To Sink? 35 Therefore do Hebrews 10: 35 -39 Ephesians 4: 28 (NKJV) Ephesians 4: 14 (NKJV) not cast away your confidence, Numbers 13: 30 -31 (NKJV) Genesis 3: 1 -3 (NKJV) 28 36 For you Philippians 3: 13 -14 (NKJV) 14 Let him who stole which has great reward. that we should no 1 Now the serpent was more cunning 30 Then Caleb quieted the 13 have Brethren, I do not count need of 33 endurance, so that than any beast of the field which the steal no longer, but longer be children, people before Moses, and said, after you have done the will of God, myself to have apprehended; LORD God had made. And he said to 37 "For "Let us go up at once and take you may receive the promise: rather let him labor, tossed to and fro and the woman, "Has God indeed said, but one thing I do, forgetting yet a little while, And He who is possession, for we are well able 'You shall not eat of every tree of the those things which are behind carried about with every working with his hands coming will and will not tarry. 2 come to overcome it. " garden'? " And the woman said to 38 and reaching forward to those Now the just shall live by faith; 31 wind of doctrine, by the what is good, that he the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of But the men who had gone 3 but of the things which are ahead, But if anyone draws back, My soul the trees of the garden; up with him said, "We are not trickery of men, in the may have something to 14 has no pleasure in him. " 39 But we fruit of the tree which is in the midst I press toward the goal for able to go up against the are not of those who draw back to cunning craftiness of of the garden, God has said, 'You shall give him who has need. the prize of the upward call of people, for they are stronger perdition, but of those who believe not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest deceitful plotting, God in Christ Jesus. than we. " to the saving of the soul. you die. ' " 1 Corinthians 15: 33 Do not èWe can easily be distracted by: ÷ Temptations – (Gen 3: 1 -3) be deceived: ÷ Problems – (Num. 13: 30 -31) ÷ Our Past – (Phili 3: 13, 14) "Evil company ÷ Our Work – (Eph 4: 28) ÷ Our Burdens - (Heb 10: 35 -39) corrupts good ÷ Relationships – (1 Cor. 15: 33) ÷ False Teachers – (Eph 4: 14) habits. " Because We Take Our Eyes Off Jesus! 14

We Do Not Have To Sink! We Need To Keep Our Mind On Jesus! Hebrews 12: 2 -3 (NKJV) 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become 15

We Do Not Have To Sink! We Need To Keep Our Mind On Jesus! èUpon Our Lord, Jesus Christ – Ephesians 1: 3 (NKJV) 1 John 1: 9 (NKJV) 1 Peter 2: 21 (NKJV) Luke 21: 33 (NKJV) 3 Blessed be the God 1 Pet 2: 21 9 21 If we confess our For to this you were 33 Heaven and Father of our Lord èUpon The Words of Christ – called, because Christ sins, He is faithful Jesus Christ, who has earth will pass also suffered for us, Luke 21: 33 and just to forgive us blessed us with every away, but My leaving us an example, è Upon Our Blessings – Eph 1: 3 our sins and to spiritual blessing in the that you should follow words will by no cleanse us from all è Upon God’s Promises – Acts heavenly places in His steps: means pass away. Christ, 2: 38; 1 John 1: 9. unrighteousness. 16

Why Did Peter Begin To Sink? 17 Fear Overpowered Peter’s Faith – (30) “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; ” èWhat seemed so sure to Peter “INSIDE” the boat became a frightening experience “OUTSIDE” the boat! èWhen buffeted by the wind he began to doubt then panicked! èFear gripped Peter again – Mat 26: 33, 69 -75; Gal. 2: 11, 12

Why Do We Begin To Sink? Our Faith Can Be Overpowered By Fear Hebrews 13: 5 -6 (NKJV) èFaith Is Easier professed than Hebrews 12: 12 Revelation 2: 10 (NKJV) 5 Luke 17: 5 (NKJV) James 2: 14 -24 (NKJV) Let your conduct be without Matthew 14: 31 (NKJV) 10 Do not fear any of those practiced – James 2: 14, 24 14 What does it profit, my (NKJV) covetousness; be content with 31 And immediately 5 things which you are about to And the è Fear is the result of doubt – Mat brethren, if someone says such things as you have. For 12 Therefore suffer. Indeed, the devil is 14: 31; James 1: 6 -8 Jesus stretched out His he has faith but does not He Himself has said, "I will apostles said to about to throw some of you strengthen the èDo Not Let Fear Destroy Your have works? Can faith save hand caught him, never leave you nor forsake into prison, that you may be the Lord, Faith – Rev. 2: 10; 21: 8 6 So we may boldly say: him? you. " hands which hang and said to him, "O tested, and you will have 24 You see then that a man è Faith needs to be made strong – "The LORD is my helper; I will tribulation ten days. Be "Increase our you of little faith, why down, and the feeble is justified by works, and not fear. What can man do to Luke 17: 5; Heb. 12: 12; 13: 5, 6; faithful until death, and I will did you doubt? " knees, not by faith only. faith. " Rom. 10: 17 me? " give you the crown of life. 18

Why Did Peter Begin To Sink? Because èHe Was Distracted By The Storm And Took His Eyes Off Jesus – (30) èHe Doubted What He Could Do With The Lord and Feared – (30) èWhen His Faith Sank, He sank -(30) 19

Can You Walk On Water? èHad the faith to get out of the boat (29) èWalked on Water (29) èBegan to Sink – (30) èCried out “Lord save me!” - (30) Peter è Jesus SAVED HIM! (32) 20

Signs That You May Be Beginning To èA Sink loosening of morals èA creeping disinterest in worship and associating w/ other Christians èBacksliding into practices you confessed were wrong è Good news: If we are slipping there is a way to 21

What Must I do to be Saved? Confess Be Baptized Repent Believe Hear JUST CHRISTIAN! S A L V A T I O N

23